I try not to count the days before I go on a corporate hiatus. It has been a deliberate decision in favor of family. I'm somehow dreading it, having realized how much I love my work and I will surely miss it...but I know my priorities, and there are things that couldn't wait anymore.
In the past weeks, I've been evaluating some ideas on what to do while I stay home (most of the time) in the coming months. I simply don't like staying at home most days of the week, and not being a productive member of the society. Well, it's just me. I need to do something worthwhile, and possibly generate income in the side.
Early this month, I went to Hong Kong for a quick break. I was once again surrounded by shoes and bags - lots of it!!! in varying styles and brands!!! I could go window shopping (I shopped just quite a bit) for almost 10 miles, visiting shops along Canton, Salisbury, and Nathan Road. It was an excellent cardio exercise, putting in more than 22,000 steps a day without feeling a huge amount of effort.
During this trip, there was a moment in my mind, I was running an inventory of bags and shoes in my closet - hoping that it would help me make a more sensible real time purchase. Some of my bags and shoes back home need serious attention after months of use. Ah, I need a high quality mink lotion for those leather candies at home - then I came across a shop that sells premium leather care products from France. I was there to buy mink lotion, but I ended up purchasing a couple of items more for my leather restore project home edition. Later I would learn that the products I bought are rarely sold in boutiques or department stores in Asia. For its complete product line-up, one has to buy online from EU - and the biggest distributor in EU does not ship products to the Philippines.
A few days went by and I was home once again. Day 1 post vacation, I spent hours of web research - leather, leather types, leather care, etc. Then I started working on the most 'needy' pieces in my closet. If I am to offer leather cleaning and restoration service to friends, then I have to begin with my shoes and bags. I set-up an interim work space in our balcony, and I was happy with the result of my first attempt on cleaning and restoration.
In a few weeks' time, I will be traveling for professional training. I found an organization in Southeast Asia that offers a trade course, specializing in handbag cleaning and restoration. Wish me luck!
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| Gucci Canvas Tote - the leather trim was already dull due to wear and tear. I used to send this baby to a Manila-based bag spa, but the leather treatment was sub par. I cleaned the bag, interior and exterior; applied conditioner to the leather; and meticulously dabbed a renovator cream onto the dull edges of the leather. I also applied a silicone-free waterproof solution to the this bag. |
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| Prada Tote Bag - Leather is skin. This is snapshot of my bag after it was cleaned and conditioned. This baby is looking forward to more years of use and understated elegance. |
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| Burberry leather flats - I brought this pair to a Manila-based bag spa, and then to a famous shoe and bag repair chain - but they did not even want to touch its dull leather. They could only clean, best effort. What I did was, I cleaned the shoes first - then conditioned the leather with a shea-butter based leather cream. I carefully applied a renovating cream (in circular motion). When the solution dried up, I finished it with a spray of a silicone-free water proofing solution. |
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